There in the news was my very own senator, Mitch McConnell, elected to protect the interests of all Kentuckians and our nation as well, deliberately lollygagging on a bill designed to extend unemployment benefits during a time of recession, a bill designed to help ease unnecessary financial burdens brought about by him, his party and their eight years of failed Republican policies, HR 3548. There he was, Mitch McConnell, holding hostage extended unemployment benefits for those of us who could not find a new job in this the new era of Bush's Legacy. There he was, playing obstructionist games with the financial lives of at risk unemployed Americans. I could only wonder just who the hell Mitch was kissing up to and why.
Republican actions in this matter go far beyond the pale. Even by current standards for political games, this is an actual WTF moment in time. This is much more damaging than the GOP simply kissing up to the likes of party purists and those who pray and plot for the failure of the new administration and even their own moderates. The price of this political game is the financial viability of approximately 200,000 Americans. Does Mr. McConnell feel any responsibility whatsoever to those Americans, to those Kentuckians, who have now lost any chance for an unemployment extension as a direct result of his lollygagging?
Do Republicans want this administration to fail so badly that they would deny through delaying unemployment extensions benefits to approximately 200,000 Americans? How many of these 200,000 are Kentuckians, Mr. McConnell?
Per Huffington Post's Ryan Grim, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, after the House approval of 331-83, made a motion to pass the unemployment extension by unanimous consent. You, Mr. McConnell, just said 'no'. The entire Senate GOP just said no. Again.
What did the Democratic Senate body then do? They tried to bribe you and yours with $$$ perks previously pushed for by your party in order to get you to do what was only fair and right with the unemployment extension, to try to get you up off your collective just say no Republican ass to do right by the American people, to do right by Kentuckians.
"Democrats sweetened the pot, adding in billions in tax breaks for business -- a net operating loss carry-back provision that the GOP has long favored -- and an extension of the home buyer tax credit."
click here
"Could we have gotten UI through otherwise? Yes, we could have, but it would have taken us several days. And we don't have that kind of time. And the minority is then able to, because of the time, demand certain things." Senator Tom Harkin
All those perks offered for you to do what is fair and reasonable during the economic aftershock of eight years of failed Republican policy and what did you then do? You wasted even more time whining about ACORN! Do you really think those who are dropping from the unemployment office rolls like flies without any job or any hope of an extension in benefits thanks to your games really give a tinker's damn about ACORN right about now? Don't you think they are at this point in time more worried about their mortgage payment? Don't you think? Can you say the word prioritize?
Apparently not. While many Kentuckians continue to lose any chance of an unemployment extension you and your cohorts prefer to continue to waste valuable time by introducing various unrelated and unnecessary amendments into the process. Tactics of delay and disruption take only a few minutes out of your time, Mr. McConnell, but take money out of the pockets of Americans who no longer have the time, nor the energy, nor the resources to survive any more of your games. And, yet, you still delay.
According to the Senate Democratic ticker, at this moment more than 187,517 people have now lost the proposed extensions of benefits because you decided lollygagging is the way to combat your unemployment crisis and that number is rising as we speak. Excuse me, make that 185,518 and rising, sir. Was that one a Kentuckian?
Make that 187,809 now, Mr. McConnell.
http://democrats.senate.gov/unemployment/
Make that 188,305 so far.
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